A care home received a visit from celebrity gardener and television presenter David Domoney to judge their garden competition. 

Mr Domoney recently visited local care home Anisha Grange in Billericay, to judge their company-wide gardening competition.

The gardener, best known for his work with Alan Titchmarsh on the Alan Titchmarsh Show visited Anisha Grange’s award-winning gardens to meet residents and give feedback for their efforts at their Hallmark in Bloom event.

Hallmark in Bloom launched in 2003 by the care home provider, is an annual event which runs from 13th -24th July and is held to find the greenest garden in the country.

This year, competition entrants included all 17 of the Hallmark Care Homes across England and Wales and each home were judged on categories ranging from ‘Best Whole Home Effort’ and ‘Best Resident Engagement.’

Mr Domoney said: “Gardening not only has physical benefits it has therapeutic benefits as it is a key link to the past. It’s good to see a care home has recognised this fact and implemented it as an activity at the home.

“The gardens were very nice, I loved how there is lots of different areas so the resident can sneak away get some fresh air and enjoy the tranquillity of the garden.”

Anisha Grange made sure they were in ‘full bloom’ for the Hallmark in Bloom events this year by visiting Stockbrook Farm to gain gardening advice and plant their hanging baskets.

The home also incorporated resident’s artwork and literature into the garden which had an east-end to west-end theme complete with a beach hut and Morris Minor.

Other judges included Hallmark Care Homes Managing Director, Avnish Goyal and Training and Education Officer, Damien Newman from Thrive, who are a gardening charity which promote the therapeutic benefits of gardening for the elderly.

The homes utilise Thrives expertise throughout the year to ensure our care team have the skills needed to enable our residents to make the most of their outdoor space.

Damien Newman, Training and Education Officer from Thrive said: “Anisha Grange continues to improve its gardens every year and the more it matures the better it looks.

"This year I was particularly impressed with the fruit and vegetable patch which has really come together over the last 12 months.”

The judging day at the home was also a great opportunity for visitors to get involved and enjoy a taste of the British summer time.

This year, visitors to the home enjoyed the musical stylings of 80’s Dollars celebrity musician David Van Day while enjoying a treat from the ice-cream van and homemade fish and chips.

The winners of the competition will be announced in August.

Anisha Grange care home is part of Hallmark Care Homes, the leading specialist care provider established in 1997 with 17 care homes across England and Wales.

Hallmark Healthcare’s registered nurses and trained carers are highly qualified and take pride in delivering award-winning standards of care. Anisha Grange specialises in residential, nursing and dementia care.

For further information please visit www.hallmarkcarehomes.c.o.uk